Did JIMMY FALLON Go TOO FAR? The BTS “Joke” That Has ARMY Outraged!
- lewishooper1
- 39 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Tonight Show is facing major backlash after a controversial segment involving BTS—was it just a bad joke, or is there something more going on? Let's dive in deeper!
BTS is no stranger to appearing on American television, although a recent uproar following a xenophobic 'joke' made on a recent episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has caused the internet to go into meltdown.
The episode was supposed to celebrate the massive reunion of BTS and their new album
ARIRANG, however, the atmosphere soured due to a controversial remark regarding North Korea, which took place during the show.
So What Happened?
The remark took place during a pre-recording of the audience interaction and warm-up comedian Seth Herzog, who allegedly asked the crowd, "Anybody here from the North? No? Nobody?" Many attendees at the show felt this was a direct, racially insensitive jab at the South Korean group, reducing their identity to a tired geopolitical stereotype.
Jimmy Fallon, who is the show's host, did not comment himself, so should he still be held responsible? The outrage did not end there, and reports were made due to the mismanagement of taping. As per any audience show, fans were not allowed to use their phones during the recording and therefore had their devices confiscated to prevent any leaked footage of the show.
ARMY Reaction
Global ARMY were quick to flood social media, with the trending hashtag #FallonTonightIsOver, expressing deep betrayal. Some fans even went as far as
labeling the comment as blatant racism.
This new hashtag from ARMY is in the hopes of boycotting future episodes of the show and for the contract with NBC and its sponsors to end. Do ARMY worldwide really have this kind of power?
What This Could Mean
It is no secret that BTS and Jimmy Fallon have a special relationship, as many of the members have appeared on his show a number of times. The latest scandal could, however, threaten the group's future appearances on the show. It also, for some, brings up a deeper conversation about the misconceptions and microaggressions K-pop artists face within the Western media landscape today.
Final Thoughts
The Dojeon Media team is shocked to hear about this latest scandal and xenophobic comment in today's world. While Herzog himself has offered a private apology to the members, ARMY is still demanding a more public statement from Herzog or the producers, even though Jimmy Fallon has apologized publicly.
This scandal serves as a sad reminder that even global superstars are not immune to outdated and offensive industry stereotypes.
We would love to hear what you think about this topic in the comments below!